Westford shooting suspect deemed incompetent
A Burlington judge has determined a woman accused of shooting her gun instructor in Westford is mentally unfit to stand trial, court papers show.
Judge James Crucitti ordered that a hospitalization hearing take place to determine what type of treatment is appropriate for Veronica Lewis, 32, of New York.
Crucitti said much of the evidence that had been presented during a daylong hearing in January regarding Lewis' mental competency was contradictory but provided insight into Lewis' mental state and how it might affect her competency. Lewis had refused to be transported to the court from the Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility in South Burlington, telling corrections officers inaccurately she did not have a lawyer and had already been sentenced.
"Ms. Lewis may choose not to cooperate and manipulate the process or she may choose to discuss her case and her legal situation in a rational manner," Crucitti wrote in his 15-page order issued Monday. "The court finds that Ms. Lewis understands the fundamentals of court procedure and process but at this time does not have an ability to consult with her attorney with a reasonable degree of rational understanding."
Lewis is accused of trying to kill her firearms instructor, Darryl Montague, in Westford in June 2015. He was shot multiple times but survived. She also is accused of committing several assaults while in jail. Lewis has denied all charges. She faces up to life in prison if convicted.
Lewis has a history of mental-health issues, according to court records. Before the June 2015 shooting, Lewis was housed at the Hundred Acre Homestead, a therapeutic home that describes itself as being “for people who are challenged with mental illness or struggling with life’s emotional stress.” She also has been treated with psychiatric medication and had 16 prior psychiatric hospitalizations in New York, according to court papers.
Chittenden County State's Attorney Sarah George said Monday she is disappointed with the court's decision, but her office is prepared to go forward with the hospitalization hearing.
"Our goal would be to have Ms. Lewis hospitalized until she is deemed competent," George said. "We would continue prosecution at that time."
Lewis' lawyer Lucas Collins declined to comment on the judge's decision, saying he needs to discuss the court's finding with his client. Collins said his goal will be "to make sure the court goes through the right process to determine what the appropriate level of treatment is."
An incompetency finding in another case, that of murder suspect Jose Pazos, resulted in almost three years of hospitalization before Pazos' competency was reevaluated. Pazos, who is accused in a 2010 killing of a Burlington social worker, is awaiting another competency hearing. George said she hopes the incompetency finding does not stall Lewis' case as long as in Pazos' case.
Lewis remains jailed without bail at the Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility, pending the hospitalization hearing, which had yet to be scheduled Monday.
Related:
- Westford shooting suspect now faces assault charge
- Before shooting, suspect visited funeral home
- Lawyers seek expanded search in Westford case
Contact Elizabeth Murray at 651-4835 or emurray@freepressmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @LizMurrayBFP.